Improved lunch-box



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

JOHN F. MORGAN, oF Bosron, MAssAoHusErrs.

IMP RovED LuNcH-Box.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,559, datcd May 2, 1865.

p make and use' the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a new and peculiar manner of constructing a lunch or dinner box, so called; and it consists in so attaching the sides of the box to the cover and bottom portions orplates thereof that when the box is empty the said side plates canbe all folded and laid down upon the bottom plate, where they are held together by simply closing the cover portion over the same, whereby the lunchbox, when empty, can be and is greatl y reduced in size and bulk, thus producing a much more convenient and portable box than those heretofore in common use for the carrying of a lunch or dinner, the great importance of which is evident to all persons. This folding construction of the box does not in the least interfere with its being used for the reception of any desired articles of food, and When put into shape to receive the same, is sufficiently firm, strong, and stiff for all practical purposes.

rIn connection with the box above described I also use a drawer,'which slides on suitable guides of the bottom plate, in which it is intended to insert a flask suitable for holding coffee or any other liquid which it may be desired to carry.

In accompanying plate of drawings, my improvement is represented, Figure l in Plate l being a top view of the box With its cover swung back; Fig. 2, avertical section in plane of line w w, Fig. 1, with box closed or shut;l

and in Plate 2, Fig. 3, a perspective View; Fig. 4, a top view showing sides folded or laid down upon the bottom plate of box, the cover being turned back; and Fig. 5, a verticalsecf tion in plane of line m x, Fig. 1, Plate 1, showing cover closed.

a a in-the drawings represent the bottom plate of my improved box, made of a rectangular shape, and having attached to each of its four edges, by means of suitable hinges, b

`b, 8m., the four plates, cd f g, constituting the sides of the box, and made of` any desired eight' Said Plates being ndGlendent of each 1 V' other. The rear side plate, g, ofthe box is cut out at h fora portion of its length and F height, and the piece kattached thereto by hinge, l, the part k being hung upon two par-` i allel stationary rods, mim, fastened to the uni der side of the box-cover n, and extending a short distance across the width of the same.. (See Fig. l.)

At the upper edge of each end piece, d and f, of the box, turning in proper guides of the same, and extending across their entirelength, are fastening wire rods o o,provided with suiti able-shaped handles, theb ends of which rods engage and interlock with proper-shap ed hooks u p p, &c., at and upon the adj oining side pieces, c and g, when the pieces are to be fastened together, as willbe presently described.

Under the bottom plate, a a, of the box,and 7 sliding upon proper guides, q q, thereof; is` a z drawer or box, r, in Which is fitted a flask, s, suitable for the carrying of coffee or any other desired liquid.

When the box is to be used for the carrying of food, itsfour side plates, c, (Z, f, and g, are 1.

made fast to each other through the lookinglwire rods o o, and the box isin the shape seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, of the drawing; and the cover n is then closed upon the same, turning` in unison with the piece k, upon the hingel,

connecting it with the rear side of the box.

Theboxis nearly as firm, strong, secure, and`` f stiff when fastened as above described as it would be were its parts all soldered or fastened in any other similar manner together at their j oints. i l

When the box has been emptiedof itscon-i tents, its'sides are first unfastened or loosened from each other by withdrawing the rods o o,

and then turned upon their respective hinges,` i

upon the guide-rods m mof the cover as it is swung down, thereby bringing the rear po`rtion of the cover against the back edge of the bottom plate, when the cover is then jentirely closed over the whole, greatlyreducing the` H box in thickness, as seen in Fig. 3, and thus`` E rendering it Very convenient for being carried I claini as new, and desire to secure by'Letfrom place to place. ters Patent,v as an improved article of manufac- The box may be made of tin, sheet-copper, tnre-- brass, or any other suitable metal or other ma A folding box made snbstantially as herenA terial, and-of Various Shapes and sizes; and, shown and described, eitherwth or Without further, the folding box can be made and used abottoni receptacle. Without the flask-drawer, as described; and

there are many otherV modifications Which 7 JOHN F' MORGAN'V might be made in the detail, arrangement, and VVitnesses: construction of the box Without departing M. H. DURGIN, from the principles of the present invention. THOMAS M. HOWARD. 

